Is EB-1B and “tenure-track” valid for postdocs?

The EB-1B is the green card category for outstanding professors and researchers, and one of its core requirements is an offer of a permanent or equivalent academic position, such as a “tenure-track” role. The key question, therefore, is not the label “postdoc” itself, but the nature of the employment relationship.

Many postdoctoral positions are, by definition, temporary and fixed-term, which typically does not satisfy the EB-1B expectation of job permanence. If, however, the position is formally structured as “tenure-track,” with a genuine path toward academic permanence, it may qualify under the category.

What matters is the documentation of the employment relationship: the offer letter, the job description, and the institutional structure must demonstrate that this is a permanent position (or one with a clear path to permanence), and not a temporary contract.

Since each case is evaluated individually by the relevant authority, it is worth verifying the current requirements with USCIS and reviewing your profile with a specialist before filing.

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Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

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As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.